Olivia Miles Dropped 28 Points, And The Valkyries Still Can't Figure Out How To Stop Her

HOLY SMOKES, folks! You wanna talk about a rookie making a statement? Olivia Miles, still fresh outta the gate, just absolutely TORCHED the Golden State Valkyries with a career-high 28 points, leading her Minnesota Lynx to a nail-biting 87-84 win last night! This team is on FIRE, now rocking an eight-win, two-loss record and stretching their insane win streak to six straight games. Six! Plus, they're looking dominant in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, kicking things off with a perfect 2-0 record. What a start!

Miles and Williams Lead the Charge in a See-Saw Battle

Seriously, Miles was unguardable, especially in that first half where she already had 17 points, sinking five of six from beyond the arc! The Valkyries must have been scratching their heads, because she just kept coming. But this wasn't some easy cruise for the Lynx. This game was a certified barn burner with nine lead changes and six ties! Neither team could pull away, with the biggest lead for anyone being just seven points. Golden State even held a 44-42 lead at halftime despite Miles going OFF.

Then, the fourth quarter hit, and things got WILD. After Cecilia Zandalasini, who had 18 points for the Valkyries and ten of them in the final frame, drained a three to put Golden State up 75-70 with just over seven minutes left, you could feel the tension. But then, the Valkyries went ice cold. They couldn't buy a bucket for over four minutes! That's an eternity in a close game. And what did the Lynx do? They pounced! Courtney Williams, who ended up with 17 points, dropped six in that crucial stretch, and Miles added another clutch three-pointer as Minnesota ripped off an 11-0 run. Natasha Howard sealed that run with two free throws, pushing the Lynx ahead 81-75 with just over three minutes on the clock.

Clutch Plays and a Buzzer-Beater Scare

You thought it was over? Nah, not in this one! Zandalasini finally broke Golden State's scoring drought with another three, cutting the lead to 81-78. She kept fighting, even sinking two free throws with 1:04 left to bring the Valkyries within two, 84-82. Williams answered with a jumper, but Hayes fired back with a layup to keep it at an 86-84 Lynx lead with 34 seconds left. Talk about heart-stopping! Williams got to the line with six seconds remaining, hitting one of two, making it an 87-84 game.

But the drama wasn't done. After a timeout and a jump ball from an inadvertent whistle, Golden State had the ball with 3.8 seconds left. You know what's coming next, right? Zandalasini got a look, a three-pointer at the top of the key, but it just wouldn't fall at the buzzer. WHEW! What a game, what a finish, and what a performance from Olivia Miles. The Lynx are absolutely rolling, and every other team in the league better be taking notice. Can they keep this momentum going?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.